Randy's Tank and Learn Thread

[Reefer1978]

@Randy Holmes-Farley I wanted to ask you one question about your setup as it's been bothering me. Are you concerned at all using those open-bulb UVs in your brute can, and over time UV light degrading the plastic? They are HDPE, and are meant to be UV resistant, but I believe it's sun-light only, which is a much lighter dose.

The reason why it's bothering me, even AquaUV had an issue where they had a bad batch of UV-resistant plastic, and their UVs degraded after 2 years.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley I wanted to ask you one question about your setup as it's been bothering me. Are you concerned at all using those open-bulb UVs in your brute can, and over time UV light degrading the plastic? They are HDPE, and are meant to be UV resistant, but I believe it's sun-light only, which is a much lighter dose.

The reason why it's bothering me, even AquaUV had an issue where they had a bad batch of UV-resistant plastic, and their UVs degraded after 2 years.

That is possibly a concern. I’m not sure how much uv gets as far as the plastic surface before being absorbed by stuff in the water, but I do intend it as a temporary measure and will be removing it before long. I’m not a fan of killing stuff in the water generally.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I got two of the cheap Eheim knock off feeders made by Londa. I’ll be trying them out over the next few weeks, allowing me more possible foods and feeding times. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

New Fish Next Week

A one spot foxface that Dr Reef has had in quarantine is arriving a week from tomorrow. He is donating it, but I’m paying shipping. This foxface is one of the reasons I’ve been asking about best autodosable foods for herbivores since I want to be sure it and the yellow tang get enough when I’m not around to put nori, Sprung Sea Veggies, or refugium macro into the tank.

I’ll be using the above Londa feeders, one with Hikari Seaweed Extreme and one probably with TDO chromoboost , maybe
mixed with the Hikari.

If the foxface eats Formula 2 flake, I’ll use that as well, but so far none of my fish want it. :)

 

[jonelder68]

Any update on your pods experiments @Randy Holmes-Farley? I was going to try setting mine up this weekend but crazy kids have delayed that project so far.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

No update yet. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I was reading some other threads today that tisbe are among the hardest and slowest to raise. Might try again with some different types next time I order some.

 

[Miami Reef]

I saw this at my LFS, and I grabbed a bottle:

I was curious about the live version, so I put it under the microscope. Surprisingly, I didn’t see any moving cells.

Last year, I tested Algae Barn’s phyto and found it to be very alive.

I tried shaking the bottle harder, but the second attempt still didn’t reveal a single living cell.

While searching online, I stumbled upon this thread:

Reef nutrition photo feast “live” shows no movement under scope

Supposedly this stuff is supposed to be live with a mix isocrhrysis pavlova thakassiosira and tetrasselmis. I am pretty sure Atleast one of those species is supposed it to motile. This stuff also contains preservatives. At 250x I show 0 movement. Can any one who owns this verify they see...

www.reef2reef.com

Maybe they’re dead from a shipping/storage issue? Regardless, I overpaid for a bottle of dead phyto.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I saw this at my LFS, and I grabbed a bottle:

I was curious about the live version, so I put it under the microscope. Surprisingly, I didn’t see any moving cells.

Last year, I tested Algae Barn’s phyto and found it to be very alive.

I tried shaking the bottle harder, but the second attempt still didn’t reveal a single living cell.

While searching online, I stumbled upon this thread:

Reef nutrition photo feast “live” shows no movement under scope

Supposedly this stuff is supposed to be live with a mix isocrhrysis pavlova thakassiosira and tetrasselmis. I am pretty sure Atleast one of those species is supposed it to motile. This stuff also contains preservatives. At 250x I show 0 movement. Can any one who owns this verify they see...

www.reef2reef.com

Maybe they’re dead from a shipping/storage issue? Regardless, I overpaid for a bottle of dead phyto.

I don’t know the reality, but this is what the claim ;my bolding)

IS PHYTO-FEAST LIVE REALLY ALIVE?
YES – Phyto-Feast LIVE is ALIVE!
Over 95% of the cells are alive when bottled and much of it will stay alive for several months. Check out the viability report from the CCMP.

All the microalgae that go into Phyto-Feast Live are grown at our farm in California, harvested live and packed and shipped "farm fresh" every week. Once harvested the algae are induced to become "quiescent," in "suspended animation." At the time of bottling 95% or more of the algae are alive.

In this quiescent state metabolic activity and respiration are reduced to minimal levels and the nutritional value of the algae and the integrity of the cell membranes are preserved. The process is similar to cryopreservation where alga can be frozen live for years and remain viable.

Not all of our algae species are equally hardy and over time some of the more delicate cells begin to expire. However some cells will remain viable for up to three months.

Because of the unique quiescence process that is applied to the algae, the cells remain intact and they retain their full nutritional value long after they have ceased metabolic activity. Properly stored, a bottle of Phyto-Feast will provide the same value at three months that it did on the first day.

 

[Miami Reef]

I don’t know the reality, but this is what the claim ;my bolding)

IS PHYTO-FEAST LIVE REALLY ALIVE?
YES – Phyto-Feast LIVE is ALIVE!
Over 95% of the cells are alive when bottled and much of it will stay alive for several months. Check out the viability report from the CCMP.

All the microalgae that go into Phyto-Feast Live are grown at our farm in California, harvested live and packed and shipped "farm fresh" every week. Once harvested the algae are induced to become "quiescent," in "suspended animation." At the time of bottling 95% or more of the algae are alive.

In this quiescent state metabolic activity and respiration are reduced to minimal levels and the nutritional value of the algae and the integrity of the cell membranes are preserved. The process is similar to cryopreservation where alga can be frozen live for years and remain viable.

Not all of our algae species are equally hardy and over time some of the more delicate cells begin to expire. However some cells will remain viable for up to three months.

Because of the unique quiescence process that is applied to the algae, the cells remain intact and they retain their full nutritional value long after they have ceased metabolic activity. Properly stored, a bottle of Phyto-Feast will provide the same value at three months that it did on the first day.

Thanks for the info. The viability report eases my mind.

 

[jonelder68]

I don’t know the reality, but this is what the claim ;my bolding)

IS PHYTO-FEAST LIVE REALLY ALIVE?
YES – Phyto-Feast LIVE is ALIVE!
Over 95% of the cells are alive when bottled and much of it will stay alive for several months. Check out the viability report from the CCMP.

All the microalgae that go into Phyto-Feast Live are grown at our farm in California, harvested live and packed and shipped "farm fresh" every week. Once harvested the algae are induced to become "quiescent," in "suspended animation." At the time of bottling 95% or more of the algae are alive.

In this quiescent state metabolic activity and respiration are reduced to minimal levels and the nutritional value of the algae and the integrity of the cell membranes are preserved. The process is similar to cryopreservation where alga can be frozen live for years and remain viable.

Not all of our algae species are equally hardy and over time some of the more delicate cells begin to expire. However some cells will remain viable for up to three months.

Because of the unique quiescence process that is applied to the algae, the cells remain intact and they retain their full nutritional value long after they have ceased metabolic activity. Properly stored, a bottle of Phyto-Feast will provide the same value at three months that it did on the first day.

I think it’s very specific to your LFS. I believe one would put fake tags on the bottle for expiration date. Obviously no life. Another the tag looked different and was completely full of life. If you want phyto best option local reef group or grow your own as I’m sure you know.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I think it’s very specific to your LFS. I believe one would put fake tags on the bottle for expiration date. Obviously no life. Another the tag looked different and was completely full of life. If you want phyto best option local reef group or grow your own as I’m sure you know.

If that is happening, I’m certain Reef Nutrition would want to know and deal with it. They already dealt with a company that I told them was selling TDO sample packages labeled not for resale.

 

[Miami Reef]

I think it’s very specific to your LFS. I believe one would put fake tags on the bottle for expiration date. Obviously no life. Another the tag looked different and was completely full of life. If you want phyto best option local reef group or grow your own as I’m sure you know.

You should have seen Algae Barn’s phyto; it arrived exploding with life.

I didn’t like how diluted it was, and the cells settled on the bottom over a few days, despite shaking it once a day. Surely some of the cells were smothered in the process.

 

[jonelder68]

You should have seen Algae Barn’s phyto; it arrived exploding with life.

I didn’t like how diluted it was, and the cells settled on the bottom over a few days, despite shaking it once a day. Surely some of the cells were smothered in the process.

You should have seen Algae Barn’s phyto; it arrived exploding with life.

I didn’t like how diluted it was, and the cells settled on the bottom over a few days, despite shaking it once a day. Surely some of the cells were smothered in the process.

Many mixed reviews on them…not sure id touch anything from them.

 

[jonelder68]

If that is happening, I’m certain Reef Nutrition would want to know and deal with it. They already dealt with a company that I told them was selling TDO sample packages labeled not for resale.

Luckily they’re building a highway merge/bridge over the current location. They’ve decided to just do at home store. Seems the new trend here. Appointment only. But with that it becomes usually just fish and coral for sale. No supplies. Hanna test kits expired last year. It was bad. But fish and coral were very good quality somehow.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Luckily they’re building a highway merge/bridge over the current location. They’ve decided to just do at home store. Seems the new trend here. Appointment only. But with that it becomes usually just fish and coral for sale. No supplies. Hanna test kits expired last year. It was bad. But fish and coral were very good quality somehow.

I’m sorry, what company are you talking about?

 

[jonelder68]

I’m sorry, what company are you talking about?

Hmmm…hate to rat but the LFS was aquarium wholesale. Again they’re done so it’s taken care of itself. Their fish and coral is very good. I get it they try to have supplies on hand then they don’t sell and expire. But the fake dates is robbery.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Unknown Creature

Time to close the book on the white antenna creature(s) in the picture below. They sprouted soon after the rock arrived, but never grew further, never got any color, and are now gone. I guess they will remain a mystery for now. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Hmmm…hate to rat but the LFS was aquarium wholesale. Again they’re done so it’s taken care of itself. Their fish and coral is very good. I get it they try to have supplies on hand then they don’t sell and expire. But the fake dates is robbery.

Ok, thanks. I wasn’t sure if you meant the place I bought the TDO samples or Reef Nutrition or whatever. :)

 

[jonelder68]

Unknown Creature

Time to close the book on the white antenna creature(s) in the picture below. They sprouted soon after the rock arrived, but never grew further, never got any color, and are now gone. I guess they will remain a mystery for now. :)

Like I said before mine did this and shortly after macros would appear. Not sure if that’s actually some macro sprouting or if they would take off after whatever it is perished. Every rock that had these is covered in macros. Don’t know what kind but all red types.

Mexicana caulpera came from the sand im assuming. It’s wild. New things popping up daily still.